Dataset Information

From microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms for the genetic monitoring of a critically endangered sturgeon.

ABSTRACT: The use of genetic information is crucial in conservation programs for the establishment of breeding plans and for the evaluation of restocking success. Short tandem repeats (STRs) have been the most widely used molecular markers in such programs, but next-generation sequencing approaches have prompted the transition to genome-wide markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Until now, most sturgeon species have been monitored using STRs. The low diversity found in the critically endangered European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), however, makes its future genetic monitoring challenging, and the current resolution needs to be increased. Here, we describe the discovery of a highly informative set of 79 SNPs using double-digest restriction-associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing and its validation by genotyping using the MassARRAY system. Comparing with STRs, the SNP panel proved to be highly efficient and reproducible, allowing for more accurate parentage and kinship assignments' on 192 juveniles of known pedigree and 40 wild-born adults. We explore the effectiveness of both markers to estimated relatedness and inbreeding, using simulated and empirical datasets. Interestingly, we found significant correlations between STRs and SNPs at individual heterozygosity and inbreeding that give support to a reasonable representation of whole genome diversity for both markers. These results are useful for the conservation program of A. sturio in building a comprehensive studbook, which will optimize conservation strategies. This approach also proves suitable for other case studies in which highly discriminatory genetic markers are needed to assess parentage and kinship.

SUBMITTER: Roques S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662312 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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From microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms for the genetic monitoring of a critically endangered sturgeon.

Roques Séverine S Chancerel Emilie E Boury Christophe C Pierre Maud M Acolas Marie-Laure ML

Ecology and evolution 20190611 12

The use of genetic information is crucial in conservation programs for the establishment of breeding plans and for the evaluation of restocking success. Short tandem repeats (STRs) have been the most widely used molecular markers in such programs, but next-generation sequencing approaches have prompted the transition to genome-wide markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Until now, most sturgeon species have been monitored using STRs. The low diversity found in the critically end ...[more]

PMID: 31380030

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Sturgeons are a group of Condrostean fish with very high evolutionary, economical and conservation interest. The eggs of these living fossils represent one of the most high prized foods of animal origin. The intense fishing pressure on wild stocks to harvest caviar has caused in the last decades a dramatic decline of their distribution and abundance leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to list them as the more endangered group of species. As a direct consequence, world-wide efforts have been made to develop sturgeon aquaculture programmes for caviar production. In this context, the characterization of the genes involved in sex determination could provide relevant information for the selective farming of the more profitable females. RESULTS: The 454 sequencing of two cDNA libraries from the gonads and brain of one male and one female full-sib A. naccarii, yielded 182,066 and 167,776 reads respectively, which, after strict quality control, were iterative assembled into more than 55,000 high quality ESTs. The average per-base coverage reached by assembling the two libraries was 4X. The multi-step annotation process resulted in 16% successfully annotated sequences with GO terms. We screened the transcriptome for 32 sex-related genes and highlighted 7 genes that are potentially specifically expressed, 5 in male and 2 in females, at the first life stage at which sex is histologically identifiable. In addition we identified 21,791 putative EST-linked SNPs and 5,295 SSRs. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first large massive release of sturgeon transcriptome information that we organized into the public database AnaccariiBase, which is freely available at http://compgen.bio.unipd.it/anaccariibase/. This transcriptomic data represents an important source of information for further studies on sturgeon species. The hundreds of putative EST-linked molecular makers discovered in this study will be invaluable for sturgeon reintroduction and breeding programs.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Genetic polymorphisms within the glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene affect the elimination of toxic xenobiotics by the GSTP1 enzyme. In dogs, exposure to environmental chemicals that may be GSTP1 substrates is associated with cancer. The objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic variability in the GSTP1 promoter in a diverse population of 278 purebred dogs, compare the incidence of any variants found between breeds, and predict their effects on gene expression. To provide information on ancestral alleles, a number of wolves, coyotes, and foxes were also sequenced. RESULTS:Fifteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two microsatellites were discovered. Three of these loci were only polymorphic in dogs while three other SNPs were unique to wolves and coyotes. The major allele at c.-46 is T in dogs but is C in the wild canids. The c.-185 delT variant was unique to dogs. The microsatellite located in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) was a highly polymorphic GCC tandem repeat, consisting of simple and compound alleles that varied in size from 10 to 22-repeat units. The most common alleles consisted of 11, 16, and 17-repeats. The 11-repeat allele was found in 10% of dogs but not in the other canids. Unequal recombination and replication slippage between similar and distinct alleles may be the mechanism for the multiple microsatellites observed. Twenty-eight haplotypes were constructed in the dog, and an additional 8 were observed in wolves and coyotes. While the most common haplotype acrossbreeds was the wild-type *1A(17), other prevalent haplotypes included *3A(11) in Greyhounds, *6A(16) in Labrador Retrievers, *9A(16) in Golden Retrievers, and *8A(19) in Standard Poodles. Boxers and Siberian Huskies exhibited minimal haplotypic diversity. Compared to the simple 16*1 allele, the compound 16*2 allele (found in 12% of dogs) may interfere with transcription factor binding and/or the stability of the GSTP1 transcript. CONCLUSIONS:Dogs and other canids exhibit extensive variation in the GSTP1 promoter. Genetic polymorphisms within distinct haplotypes prevalent in certain breeds can affect GSTP1 expression and carcinogen detoxification, and thus may be useful as genetic markers for cancer in dogs.

Project description:BackgroundTo determine the presence and abundance of an aquatic species in large waterbodies, especially when populations are at low densities, is highly challenging for conservation biologists. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to offer a noninvasive and cost-effective method to complement traditional population monitoring, however, eDNA has not been extensively applied to study large migratory species. Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), is the largest anadromous migratory fish in the Yangtze River, China, and in recent years its population has dramatically declined and spawning has failed, bringing this species to the brink of extinction. In this study, we aim to test the detectability of eDNA methods to determine the presence and relative abundance of reproductive stock of the species and whether eDNA can be used as a tool to reflect behavioral patterns. Chinese sturgeon eDNA was collected from four sites along the spawning ground across an eight month period, to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).ResultsWe designed a pair of specific primers for Chinese sturgeon and demonstrated the high sensitivity of ddPCR to detect and quantify the Chinese sturgeon eDNA concentration with the limit of detection 0.17 copies/μl, with Chinese sturgeon eDNA been intermittently detected at all sampling sites. There was a consistent temporal pattern among four of the sampling sites that could reflect the movement characteristics of the Chinese sturgeon in the spawning ground, but without a spatial pattern. The eDNA concentration declined by approximately 2-3 × between December 2018 and December 2019.ConclusionsThe results prove the efficacy of eDNA for monitoring reproductive stock of the Chinese sturgeon and the e decreased eDNA concentration reflect that Chinese sturgeon may survive with an extremely small number of reproductive stock in the Yangtze River. Accordingly, we suggest future conservation measures should focus on both habitat restoration and matured fish restocking to ensure successful spawning. Overall, this study provides encouraging support for the application of eDNA methods to monitor endangered aquatic species.

Dataset Information

From microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms for the genetic monitoring of a critically endangered sturgeon.

Publications

From microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms for the genetic monitoring of a critically endangered sturgeon.

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